3 teenagers' failure to buckle up was fatal

By Ana Ley Staff Writer

Updated 7:14 am, Friday, February 22, 2013

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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This is a portrait of Andrea Reyna, 16, a junior at Roosevelt High School. Reyna died late Wednesday night February 20, 2013 when she was ejected from her car in a Northeast Side rollover crash. Reyna crashed on the 11,500 block of Crosswinds Way and wasn't wearing her seat belt.

This is a portrait of Andrea Reyna, 16, a junior at Roosevelt High School. Reyna died late Wednesday night February 20, 2013 when she was ejected from her car in a Northeast Side rollover crash. Reyna crashed

A police officer investigates the site of a wreck in the 11500 block of Crosswinds Way that killed Andrea Reyna. Late for her curfew, the girl was not wearing a seatbelt as she rushed toward home and lost control of her new car, a 2008 Hyundai Accent.

A police officer investigates the site of a wreck in the 11500 block of Crosswinds Way that killed Andrea Reyna. Late for her curfew, the girl was not wearing a seatbelt as she rushed toward home and lost

Ana Reyna, mother of 16-year-old Andrea Reyna, speaks with a reporter at the front door of her home Thursday February 21, 2013. Andrea Reyna died late Wednesday night February 20, 2013 when she was ejected from her car in a Northeast Side rollover crash.

Ana Reyna, mother of 16-year-old Andrea Reyna, speaks with a reporter at the front door of her home Thursday February 21, 2013. Andrea Reyna died late Wednesday night February 20, 2013 when she was ejected from

Georgina Rodriguez was one of two Brandeis High School students to be killed by a wreck.

Georgina Rodriguez was one of two Brandeis High School students to be killed by a wreck.

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Gabby Lerma was the other Brandeis student to die in the crash on a Loop 1604 access road.

Gabby Lerma was the other Brandeis student to die in the crash on a Loop 1604 access road.

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Gabriella Lerma was fatally injured when the Mitsubishi Lancer in which she was riding in the rear seat hit a turning pickup, tearing this door off the Chevrolet truck.

Gabriella Lerma was fatally injured when the Mitsubishi Lancer in which she was riding in the rear seat hit a turning pickup, tearing this door off the Chevrolet truck.

Photo: John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News

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A trailer is about to be hauled off Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the intersection of Hausman Road and Loop 1604 where a traffic accident took the life of a Brandeis High School student allegedly involved in a drag race. The wreck occurred about 11:45 a.m. and Officer Matthew Porter with the San Antonio Police Department confirmed that a female student died shortly after the crash, but no other information about her was available immediately.

A trailer is about to be hauled off Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the intersection of Hausman Road and Loop 1604 where a traffic accident took the life of a Brandeis High School student allegedly involved in a

A trailer is about to be hauled off Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the intersection of Hausman Road and Loop 1604 where a traffic accident took the life of a Brandeis High School student allegedly involved in a drag race. The wreck occurred about 11:45 a.m. and Officer Matthew Porter with the San Antonio Police Department confirmed that a female student died shortly after the crash, but no other information about her was available immediately. less

A trailer is about to be hauled off Tuesday February 19, 2013 at the intersection of Hausman Road and Loop 1604 where a traffic accident took the life of a Brandeis High School student allegedly involved in a ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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Brandeis High School students (from left to right) Paola Lewis, 17, Courtney Devore,16, and Joseph Camarano,17, sit Wednesday February 20, 2013 in a conference room at Brandeis High School while Northside Independent School District officials speak to the media about the fatal car crash that took place Tuesday involving students from the school. The poster on the right was signed by students at the school in memory of Gabriella Lerma, 17.

Brandeis High School students (from left to right) Paola Lewis, 17, Courtney Devore,16, and Joseph Camarano,17, sit Wednesday February 20, 2013 in a conference room at Brandeis High School while Northside

Flowers and a Teddy bear are at the intersection of West Hausman Road and the Loop 1604 access road.

Flowers and a Teddy bear are at the intersection of West Hausman Road and the Loop 1604 access road.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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Brandeis softball players wear orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma during a game against O'Connor High School to remember Lerma who died in a drag racing incident on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Lerma was a junior at Brandeis.

Brandeis softball players wear orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma during a game against O'Connor High School to remember Lerma who died in a drag racing incident on Tuesday,

Brandeis softball pitcher Cameron Cruze along with other teammates wear orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma on the ribbon during a game against O'Connor High School to remember Lerma who died in a drag racing incident on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Lerma was a junior at Brandeis. less

Brandeis softball pitcher Cameron Cruze along with other teammates wear orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma on the ribbon during a game against O'Connor High School to remember ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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The Brandeis softball team gather in the outfield before their game against O'Connor on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. The athletes wore orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma who died in a drag racing incident on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Lerma was a junior at Brandeis.

The Brandeis softball team gather in the outfield before their game against O'Connor on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. The athletes wore orange ribbons with the initials of former teammate Gabriella Lerma who died in

Students at Brandeis High School made a poster to encourage the continued trending of #bieberforlerma.

Students at Brandeis High School made a poster to encourage the continued trending of #bieberforlerma.

Photo: Sarah Tressler/Express-News

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A Brandeis High School student plays guitar as two female students embrace behind him during a gathering at the school Wednesday February 20, 2013 the day after Brandeis High School student Gabriella Lerma was killed in a car crash. less

A Brandeis High School student plays guitar as two female students embrace behind him during a gathering at the school Wednesday February 20, 2013 the day after Brandeis High School student Gabriella Lerma was ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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Northside Independent School District spokesman Pascual Gonzales (left) speaks with the media Wednesday February 20, 2013 at Brandeis High School about the fatal car crash that took place yesterday at the Loop 1604 access road and West Hausman Road. Standing in the center is Brandeis High School principal Geri Berger and on the right is Dr. Deborah Healy, Director of Guidance and Couseling for NISD.

Northside Independent School District spokesman Pascual Gonzales (left) speaks with the media Wednesday February 20, 2013 at Brandeis High School about the fatal car crash that took place yesterday at the Loop

Nathan Jordan participates with fellow Brandeis High School students in a candlelight vigil for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Nathan Jordan participates with fellow Brandeis High School students in a candlelight vigil for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Several hundred Brandeis High School students participate on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in a candlelight vigil for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Several hundred Brandeis High School students participate on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in a candlelight vigil for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman

Brandeis High School students participate in a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night, Feb. 20, 2013, for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Brandeis High School students participate in a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night, Feb. 20, 2013, for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on

Brandeis High School students participate in a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Brandeis High School students participate in a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, for classmates involved in a fatal traffic accident near the intersection of Loop 1604 at Hausman Road on Tuesday.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

3 teenagers' failure to buckle up was fatal

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Andrea Reyna had just gotten her first car and was showing it off to her boyfriend when she realized she missed her 10:30 p.m. curfew.

She jumped in the car and called her mom to say she'd be a few minutes late, but never made it home Wednesday night.

Reyna was not wearing a seatbelt when she lost control of her speeding 2008 Hyundai Accent in the 11500 block of Crosswinds Way about 11 p.m., and she was ejected as the car struck a culvert and went flipping off the road.

She probably would have survived if she'd just buckled up, traffic investigators said.

“These kids, they think they're invincible,” said her mother, Anna Reyna, her voice trembling. “They need to make sure they follow all the rules.”

Reyna was the third San Antonio teenager this week who may have lost her life because she was riding in a car unrestrained during a collision.

A day earlier, two Brandeis High School students, Gabriella Lerma, 17, and Georgina “Gina” Rodriguez, 16, were fatally injured in a wreck that occurred while they were out of school during their lunch break.

Lerma was pronounced dead at a hospital and Rodriguez died Wednesday night.

Lerma and Rodriguez were riding in the back unrestrained, while the surviving driver and front passenger were wearing seatbelts.

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There are myriad reasons teenagers ignore the rule, said TxDOT spokesman Mark Cross — they find seatbelts uncomfortable, they forget or they have a false sense of security.

The carefree, rebellious nature of teenagers likely also is partly to blame, Cross said. And because strapping on a seatbelt is a habit that many adults are accustomed to doing before getting behind the wheel, many young drivers simply aren't used to doing it.

“I think people that don't wear them have a false sense of security and invincibility,” Cross said. “Or they just weren't taught that you have to wear a seatbelt. You have to learn it and practice the habit.”

The youngest of three, Andrea had been driving with a permit for about a year before she was old enough to get her license.

She wanted to have a car so she could drive to work at Whataburger, a job she had recently acquired. Andrea was responsible, often volunteered to do chores for her mom and though she often negotiated her curfew, she seldom missed it.

That's why her mother grew worried when she didn't arrive home about 15 minutes after calling to say she was on her way back from her boyfriend's house, which is only about 5 minutes from home.

“I got in the car and drove toward her boyfriend's house,” Anna Reyna said, her eyes welling. “I could see all the emergency vehicles.”

She stopped when she recognized the mangled Hyundai Accent that her daughter had been so eager to drive just hours before.